Linux operating systems and architecture

Knoppix Linux

Knoppix is a well-known, LiveDistos operating system that is based on the Debian GNU/Linux Distribution, which abides by the Free and Open Source (FOSS) licensing that governs much of Linux operating systems. The first edition of Knoppix was released in September 30, 2000 and since then there have been twenty five subsequent versions, with the latest release date of this writing being March 26, 2008. Klaus Knopper, a German Linux developer, is credited with having created this variation of the Linux distribution.

Knoppix is widely considered to be an excellent diagnostic operating system and has become a recommended operating system for computer resellers to quickly solve configuration challenges for networked systems. As Knoppix is an operating system can be boot directly from CD or even from a PEM drive, its usefulness as a recovery utility for Microsoft Windows operating system malfunctions has become one of the more prevalent uses of this operating system

There are two editions of Knoppix distributed, one on CD and a second on DVD. Since March 2007 only DVD editions have been released. The CD edition of Knoppix has 1,000 files on it, and 2,600 are on the DVD edition. Both editions include the default desktop environment, including a Knoppix-specific Internet browser called the Konquerer. The developers also created a series of window managers called IceWM, FNUstep, twem, and Fluxbox as well. There is also an e-mail client called KMail. The developers have also added in MP3 audio support and support for Ogg Vorbis audio playback. Also included is the Iceweasel web browser that is based on the GNU/Linux distribution of Mozilla Firefox web browser. There is also support for accessing the Internet via dial-up connection through the use of KPPP dialer support and ISDN integration GUN/Linux applications. Over time the developers of Knoppix have also added in Open Office from the GNU/Linux distribution agreement that openoffice.org. Support for CD and DVD authoring and backup with K3p, and have also included the popular open source image editing program GIMP. As Knoppix has become well-known as an operating system capable of recovering systems after another operating system has ceased functioning, the developers have also included system repair and data rescue tools and applications as well. As Knoppix is playing an increasingly important role for resellers as a system recovery operating system there are network analysis and administration tools also included in the current release of Knoppix today.

Consistent with GNU/Linux distributions the system requirements to run Knoppix are relatively low compared to other operating systems. Knoppix will run on an Intel-based i486 processor or higher, with 32MM of RAM and 96Mb for graphics mode with KDE. It is essential a system have a bootable CD-ROM drive or a boot floppy, or can be configured to boot from a PEM drive. It is also recommended that the system have a standard SVGA or compatible graphics card and a standard serial or USB-connected mouse.

Knoppix is capable of auto-configuring itself to any given system configuration that meets its minimum requirements. Combined with the auto-configuration option and the ability to run directly off of a CD or even PEM drive, the portability of this operating system has made it popular in software developments as well. The latest editions of this operating system can also detect and connect to TCP/IP-based networks, a further advantage when troubleshooting network and system connections. This attribute of the Knoppix operating system has won it accolades in the general press.

Security of open source operating systems continues to be one of the most pressing design issues for Linux operating system developers. As a result, Linux developers have continually added new security approaches and models to the kernel level of their operating systems, with Knoppix being used as a model that other Linux distributions are judged by.

The distribution popularity of Knoppix and comparable Linux distributions is also forcing Microsoft, Oracle and even enterprise software company SAP to re-evaluate open source operating systems. It is noteworthy that each of these companies now has either acquired open source database companies, as Oracle has done with Innobase, or completely re-ordered their development efforts to support integration to Linux, as Microsoft has done. The popularity of Linux distributions including Knoppix is revolutionizing to desktop and server operating system marketplaces. Free copies of Knoppix are available on over 50 different mirror sites globally for downloading.

Texas Linux User Groups

Anyone can become a member of a Linux user group; there are typically no prerequisites or requirements that need to be adhered to. Of the many user groups in Texas, the three focused on in this discussion are as follows. The first is the Houston Linux User's Group which meets the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 2 to 4pm at the Houston Area League of PC Users. The second, the Austin Linux User Group, meets every Thursday in the City of Austin Waller Creek Complex at 625 East Tenth Street in downtown Austin. The third, the heart of Tex Linux User Group, which meets in Waco, Texas at the Computer Science Technology Department on a monthly basis.

Linux Jobs in Houston

There are many jobs available in the Houston area for Linux programmers and developers. The three profiled are listed below.

Thea first is a Linux Test Engineer with Hewlett-Packard. This position requires a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, 6 years of Linux experience, and a demonstrated strong understanding of the variations on Linux distributions. This position also requires a strong knowledge of Linux kernel compiling and programming, in addition to expert-level grasp of Linux command lines and the use of graphical Desktops. There is also the requirement of understanding how Linux Servers operate and knowledge of how the basic configuration of laptops, desktops and servers operate.